Abstract
This cohort-sequential study examined developmental trajectories of social anxiety in a nonclinical sample (N = 331, 161 girls) aged 9 to 17 years at initial and 12 to 21 years at final assessment. We tested whether variables assessing
cognition, social competence, and temperament discriminated between the trajectories. Variables were collected from different
sources: participants, independent observers, parents, and teachers. Using Latent Class Growth Modeling (LCGM) we identified
three distinct social anxiety trajectory groups: i) high and changing; ii) moderate and decreasing; and iii) low and decreasing.
Multinomial regression analyses showed that the cognition variables, negative interpretations of ambiguous social situations
and self-focused attention, differentiated between all three trajectories. A lack of social skills and having social problems
at school were specifically related to the chance of following the high trajectory versus the moderate trajectory. Neuroticism
differentiated between the low and moderate trajectories. Findings indicate that adolescents at risk of belonging to a high
social anxiety trajectory can be discriminated from peers belonging to a less anxious trajectory using both cognition and
social competence variables.
cognition, social competence, and temperament discriminated between the trajectories. Variables were collected from different
sources: participants, independent observers, parents, and teachers. Using Latent Class Growth Modeling (LCGM) we identified
three distinct social anxiety trajectory groups: i) high and changing; ii) moderate and decreasing; and iii) low and decreasing.
Multinomial regression analyses showed that the cognition variables, negative interpretations of ambiguous social situations
and self-focused attention, differentiated between all three trajectories. A lack of social skills and having social problems
at school were specifically related to the chance of following the high trajectory versus the moderate trajectory. Neuroticism
differentiated between the low and moderate trajectories. Findings indicate that adolescents at risk of belonging to a high
social anxiety trajectory can be discriminated from peers belonging to a less anxious trajectory using both cognition and
social competence variables.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-012-9651-6
- Authors
- A. C. Miers, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Unit Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court building, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands
- A. W. Blöte, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Unit Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court building, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands
- M. de Rooij, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Unit Methodology and Statistics, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court building, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands
- C. L. Bokhorst, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Unit Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court building, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands
- P. M. Westenberg, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Unit Developmental and Educational Psychology, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court building, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627